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Important Information

Important Information
How We Travel

Out Adventures is all about good times with likeminded guys. Whatever’s on the itinerary – from fireside camping to five-star decadence – our goal is to make the experience magical. We’re also committed to supporting the communities we visit by hiring local guides, staying at locally-owned accommodations when possible, and celebrating local cuisine. It all adds up to a great way to immerse yourself in an array of cultures.

COUNTRY INFO

VISAS: You will most likely need an e-visa to enter Kenya. Click here for more info, and to apply online.  All visas are the responsibility of the traveller, and should be arranged in advance.

CULTURE SHOCK: Tourism in Kenya is developed, but know that service levels aren’t on par with Western nations. You’ll also see extreme poverty. Crime is common in the city so exercise caution, be discrete, and don’t wander alone.

LOCAL LGBT SCENE: Sodomy is illegal and punishable by imprisonment in Kenya, same-sex marriage is banned, and people routinely disowned by their family. Alas, complete discretion is advised, since even heterosexual PDAs are frowned upon in this conservative nation. However, rest assured your crew, staff, and accommodations welcome you.

WEATHER: August is the dry season, a perfect month to check out the wildebeest migration. The sunny weather on safari hovers around 25C/77F.

REQUIRED VACCINATIONS: The WHO recommends vaccination against typhoid, hepatitis A and B, cholera, yellow fever, rabies, meningitis, and the flu. To determine if you should take preventative measures to reduce the risk of illness, consult with your doctor or a travel medical clinic.

ELECTRICITY: You may need an international travel plug/adapter for type A/B sockets. Visit http://www.power-plugs-sockets.com/kenya/ for more information.

CONNECTIVITY:All hotels and camps will have Wi-Fi (though possibly spotty). Feel free to tweet, pin, post and share your experience friends and family at home!

Meals

For everybody’s peace of mind, medical travel insurance is required on all Out Adventures tours. At a minimum, your travel insurance must provide cover against personal accident, death, medical expenses, emergency repatriation and personal liability, with a minimum medical coverage of US $50,000.

For more details, visit www.outadventures.com/insurance.

YOUR GUIDE

All Out Adventures are led by a gay (or gay-welcoming) guide. On this tour, you’ll be personally hosted by both a Local Guide AND a Host from Out Adventures’ head office. There may be a second Local Guide depending on the size of the tour.

FELLOW ADVENTURERS

Out Adventures are a great way to meet people from around the world and all walks of life. Bear in mind that everybody’s there for a good time, so mutual respect will go a long way. Please be on time for any meet ups, empathetic to the needs of others, and ready to roll with whatever the adventure brings.

Although we can’t tell you about your fellow travellers for privacy reasons, we can tell you many great friendships began with an Out Adventure. And just because we’re a gay tour operator doesn’t mean we’re exclusive: friends and family are always welcome to join the fun.

FLYING SOLO

If you’ve never travelled on your own, it’s an amazing way to get to know yourself while making new friends along the way. We can arrange for you to share a room with people in your age range at no charge, or you can pay a supplement for your own room. If there’s an odd number of solos, we’ll rotate a single room on a random basis. 

ITINERARY DISCLAIMER

The itinerary is correct at time of publishing. If anything, it will only get better based on feedback from prior travellers and our own research. It’s best to reference your final trip documents, rather than our website, in case there have been any changes that affect your departure.

OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES

Every Out Adventure offers optional excursions that are not included in price of this trip. Please check your daily itinerary in your final pre-trip packet to see what’s available.

STARTING POINT

Sovereign Suites
Redhill, Kiambu, Limuru Rd, Kenya

Standard check-in time is between 2PM and 3PM. We are unable to arrange early check ins, however you are able to store your luggage and explore the central area near the hotel while you wait. If you would like a guaranteed early check-in, you will need to reserve a pre-tour night of accommodation.

FINISHING POINT

Ashnil Mara Camp
Talek, Masai Mara

A group transfer will be provided to Nairobi Airport, or a Nairobi Airport hotel on the last day of the tour.

TIPPING

If you’re pleased with the service throughout your trip, a tip is recommended. Details will be provided in your final trip documentation, but we recommend budgeting about $150-$200 USD.

MONEY

The local currency is the Kenyan Shilling (KES). We recommend carrying a few small bills for small purchases and souvenirs. Credit cards are accepted by the hotels and safari camps, but there may be surcharges. We also recommend carrying about $400 USD in case of an emergency, or if your credit/ATM cards are placed on hold. 

WHAT TO BRING

Most Out Adventures entail carrying your own luggage on occasion. And while you’ll never schlep far, things can quickly get costlier than a celebrity breakup if you don’t keep your baggage under 20kg/44lb thanks to costly surcharges on domestic flights. You should also bring something smaller for day trips to carry water, your camera, and any souvenirs you find along the way.

The following packing list is a guideline, not gospel. Our Out Adventure Specialists are happy to answer any specific questions about how much or little to bring.

Travel Documents:

  • Passport/Visas/Flight Itineraries/Travel Insurance
  • Pre-trip packet
  • Credit/ATM card

General Personal Items:

  • Eye mask/ear plugs
  • Smartphone/camera/tablet/charging cords/International travel plug.
  • Daypack
  • Luggage lock
  • Personal Wipes
  • Guidebook/Phrase book/Reading material
  • Protection for your devices from water/dust
  • Glasses can get very dusty during safari. If you have a prescription, bring a few pairs of contacts. 
  • Travel-size towel

Shoes:

  • Socks
  • Walking shoes
  • Sandals
  • ‘Nice’ shoes for dinners

Bottoms:

  • Underwear
  • Pants/Jeans
  • Shorts
  • Swimwear
  • ‘Nice’ pants for dinners

Tops:

  • Short-sleeved shirts
  • Long-sleeved shirts
  • Sweaters
  • ‘Nice’ shirts for dinners

Jackets:

  • Light jacket for cool evenings
  • Waterproof jacket/poncho

Other:

  • Warm hat and gloves (For morning game drives)
  • Sunglasses/Hat
  • Small Umbrella
  • Refillable water bottle(s)

Health-related Items:

  • Small First aid kit including ibuprofen, acetaminophen, zinc oxide tape and small scissors, blister pads, diarrhea tablets, dioralyte rehydration packs
  • Personal Medication
  • High protection sunscreen/lip balm
  • Insect repellent/bite cream/antihistamine
  • Antibacterial gel/wipes
  • Toiletries including toothbrush, toothpaste & deodorant

*Please note dull/neutral colours – khaki, beige, green – are best for safari. White and black attract bugs that bite!

GROUPS WITHIN GROUPS

We love when groups of friends join us on an OUT Adventure, whether you’re celebrating a major milestone, or you just love to travel together. However, since we have travellers that will be flying solo, or as a couple, we would love your help ensuring everybody feels welcome and has an epic time. Here are some ways you can give us a hand, while also getting to know and befriending your fellow travellers:

Sit with (and get to know) different people at different meals
Mix up walking partners on excursions
Invite solo travellers to join you for an optional excursion or meal
Enjoy inside jokes in privacy, or let the group in on the secret 😉

If you’d rather relish an exclusive escape with just your own party, we also offer private departures. This is a great way to create and manage your own holiday guest list, while possibly saving money as well. Please contact one of our Adventure Specialists if you’re interested in a customized quote.

PHYSICAL RATINGS

All Out Adventures guests must have a good level of health. All tours, regardless of activity level, involve uneven steps, stairs, walking tours, and you will be required to carry your own luggage from time to time. Unfortunately, we are not able to accommodate individuals with limited mobility unless they are willing to absorb the cost of a private guide/assistant which varies by country and is only possible on a case by case basis. It is also your responsibility to advise Out Adventures of any pre-existing medical conditions that may increase the risk of you requiring medical attention, or that may affect the normal conduct of the tour and the enjoyment of the tour by other participants.

Below is a breakdown of our Physical Rating guide.

1 – Relaxing

  • Very little or no hiking
  • Light activities such as walking, bike tours, paddling or swimming are completely optional
  • Low altitude
  • Suitable for all fitness levels

2 – Light

  • Light walking and hiking (2 hours or less per day and at low altitude)
  • Light activities such as bike tours, paddling or swimming are completely optional
  • Suitable for most fitness levels

3 – Average

  • Light walking and hiking (3 hours or less per day, rarely at high altitude)
  • Some activities such as biking, paddling or swimming. Active days are mixed with relaxed days
  • Suitable for an average fitness level

4 – Demanding

  • Walking, hiking is a component of the tour (can range from 2 hours to 6 hours per day, at various altitudes)
  • Activities such as biking, paddling or swimming may be mixed in
  • Suitable for a good fitness level

5 – Challenging

  • Walking, hiking, biking, paddling or kayaking are the vast majority of the trip (can range from 2 hours to 8 hours per day, generally at high altitude)
  • Activities will likely happen day after day with limited rest days
  • Suitable for above average fitness level

CHOOSE YOUR DEPARTURE

We can’t wait to help you plan an awesome adventure, but due to a high level of fake inquiries we now record your IP address when you submit an inquiry. This helps local authorities identify and prevent harassment against Out Adventures, or any intended recipients.

CHOOSE YOUR DEPARTURE

Ask a Question

Ask a Question

We can’t wait to help you plan an awesome adventure, but due to a high level of fake inquiries we now record your IP address when you submit an inquiry. This helps local authorities identify and prevent harassment against Out Adventures, or any intended recipients.

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